UX, Writing, & Project Management
Julie
Young
Solving complex problems for your product with ingenuity and keen insights into user behavior.
Strategy and User Research
You need to make a thing happen—maybe a website, an app, or a new feature. You think you know what your users need, but when’s the last time you really talked with your customers or people in your target market?
I’ve helped clients from health care and manufacturing to the performing arts better understand their user’s needs, behaviors, and thought processes. These insights, paired with your business goals, enable me to create informed strategies for websites and apps that will set your effort up for success.
Research Skills
User interviews and observations
Formative usability testing
Web analytics analysis
Surveys
Personas
Journey maps
“Julie has the rare ability to bring chaos to order. She tackles the challenges of complex large scale websites and less complex but more nuanced websites with ease.”
User Experience Consulting
User Experience shouldn’t be throwing together some wireframes or making something look good. Done well, it’s pragmatic problem solving that gives your visual designers and developers blueprints for the build that they can rely on. From the big picture to the tiniest interaction, I’ll help you capture functionality and requirements in service of the optimal user experience. In addition, I’ll collaborate with your development team so that the solution is technically feasible and fits your budget. Throughout this process, I’ll run usability tests with your users to make sure it’s the best.
UX Skills
Requirements gathering
Information architecture
Content strategy
Sitemaps
Wireframes and prototypes
Usability testing
Copywriting
I started my digital career as a web copywriter and my pen hasn’t stopped since. My deep understanding of your users and your competition informs everything I write, whether it is website content guided by your SEO strategy, thought leadership articles to increase brand awareness, or whitepapers and downloads to generate leads. Want a few samples of my work? I designed and wrote this annual industry survey. I conducted original research and transformed it into widely shared thought leadership. I created ebooks, website copy, and case studies. And, I write an email newsletter (177 issues and counting) about native gardening.
Writing Skills
Website copy
Blog posts
Email and newsletter copy
Case studies
Whitepapers and ebooks
Knowledgebase articles and user guides
UX copywriting
“Commitment to excellence, drive to solution, creativity, and strategic mindset are qualities that distinguish Julie as a leader and role model.”
Product and Project Management
Do you have a person on your team who magically knows how to slice and dice features so that the most value is delivered with every single release? Who is able to make decisions on what stays or what goes, and can back it up with data and research—not just their gut? If you don’t, I’m here for you. For years, I’ve been getting design and development efforts unstuck with scrappy problem solving paired with strategic thinking.
In addition to years of project management and product lead experience, I’m also a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and SAFe Agilist (Scaled Agile Framework), but I promise I won’t be dogmatic about it.
Writing and Speaking
About
Prior to my freelance consulting business, I worked in user experience and project management at Sparkbox, Highmark/enGen, Elliance, and BarkleyREI. In 2015, I completed my MBA with highest honors from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In nearly two decades of working at digital agencies and at large IT organizations, I’ve tackled problems big and small and I’m ready to solve yours.
Education
Master of Business Administration
Duquesne University
B.A. English Literature and Creative Writing
Seton Hill University
Get in Touch
Let’s work together. Drop me a note about your project and I’ll be in touch!
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